A 3-year-old who goes to a Waiouru kindergarten is one of the winners in a photo competition for Conservation Week organised by Horizons Regional Council.
Isobel Bethell from Waiouru Kindergarten and Care won the early childhood category in the Conservation Week competition, which prompted the region's students to "discover the world where you live".
The winning photos will be published in Horizons' 2015 sustainability calendar, which will be provided to schools around the region.
The 3-year-old's photo was of a korimako (bellbird) among the blossoms in the grounds of the kindergarten. It was taken on an i-Pad.
Isobel is described as an "avid photographer of all things furry and feathery".
Kindergarten staff member Kina Tucker said the subject of Isobel's photo was a welcome visitor to the kindergarten.
"Many of our children rush to see him when he visits and he sings a lovely song to them."
Isobel loved animals and they were usually the subject of her photography.
"She is the youngest of five so she has plenty of time and opportunity to be involved with the bigger kids and their devices too.
"We think it is important practice, and at our kindergarten we involve the children in technology and its specific uses in our evolving world. And we encourage these learning opportunities.
"Isobel has been with us from a very young age and her interest in animals and photography features time and again in her learning stories."
Horizons environmental educator Helen Thomas said there were a "really high calibre of entries" this year. "There are some pretty talented young photographers out there."
Other winners included Eden Stroud from Manchester Street School in Feilding, who took the Year 1-6 category for her picture of raindrops on a flower, Annlies Orme from Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School, who won the Year 7-10 category for her photo of the Manawatu River, and Sarah Osborne from Taumarunui High School, who won the Year 11-13 category for her striking image of a krearea (falcon).
Jaye Duff-Edwards of Manchester Street School won the people's choice award with a picture of a gecko perched on his friend's shoulder.